Over the past two decades, he has gone from achievement to achievement, including a phenomenal string of hit records and multi-platinum awards.Over the past two decades, he has gone from achievement to achievement, including a phenomenal string of hit records and multi-platinum awards.
Having just come on board at Atlantic Records and Warner as Vice-President, as well as having his own Atlantic-distributed label,143 Records, Foster is a man whose amazing career is just hitting its stride.
Among his many achievements, Foster is a fourteen-time Grammy Award winner, with a remarkable 35 nominations to his credit. In 1994 alone, Foster garnered four Grammy's, including - for the third time in his career - the coveted Producer of the Year (Non- Classical) award. He also earned the Record of the Year and Album of the Year Grammy Awards - for both his work with Whitney Houston, plus the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) - for his work with Celine Dion. In Billboard magazine's 1993 year-end charts, Foster was named the Top Singles Producer and Top R&B Singles Producer.
From the Canadian music and television industries, Foster has received four Juno Awards and two Gemini Awards.
In 1994, David was honoured by the American Academy of Achievement - receiving the Cold Plate Award and was inducted into the academy's Library of Living History.
When David Foster began piano lessons at the age of five in his native Victoria, British Columbia, it quickly became apparent that his talents far surpassed those of other children his age.
Living up to that early promise, he was enrolled as a student at the University of Washington at the age of 13, and three years later, when offered an opportunity to join the backing band for rock n' roll legend Chuck Berry, Foster embarked on his professional performing career.
In 1971, Foster relocated to Los Angeles, and within two years, his group Skylark scored the top ten hit "Wildflower". Throughout the early '70s he built a solid reputation as one of the best session keyboard players in the business, performing with such superstars as John Lennon, George Harrison, Barbra Streisand and Rod Stewart.
From there, Foster added songwriting and producing to his musical accomplishments. His early production and writing client list included Hall & Oates, Deniece Williams, Carole Bayer Sager, Boz Scaggs and The Average White Band.
In 1979, he received his first Grammy Award for writing Earth, Wind & Fire's "After The Love Has Gone".
Foster's writing and producing credits expanded to include such superstars as Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Lionel Ritchie, Neil Diamond, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, The Manhattan Transfer, Olivia Newton-John, James Ingram, The Pointer Sisters, Art Garfunkel, Roger Daltrey, Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau, Richard Marx and many, many others.
Over the years, Foster has been involved in a variety of projects for Atlantic Records, including a series of solo albums; his self-titled debut release in 1986, his second solo album, The Symphony Sessions, 1988 and the album River 0f Love in 1990, and in 1991 Foster's acclaimed Rechordings was a stunning collection , featuring versions of Foster’s best-loved compositions.
Foster maintains a residence in Los Angeles, although he still regards his native Canada as home. David is married to Linda Thompson, who is his frequent musical collaborator and co-writer. They have six children between them - David with four daughters and Linda with two sons. Foster's passion for music is exceeded only by his love for his family: in 1991 the Pather's Day Council named him Father Of The Year.
